ADHD sufferers are angry and stay up late, study suggests

After analyzing Twitter posts, scientists discovered attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) patients are angry, swear more frequently and use words such as ‘hate’ and ‘cry’ more than non-sufferers, a study found.

They also often post tweets between the hours of midnight and 6am, the research adds.

Study author Sharath Chandra Guntuku from the University of Pennsylvania, said: ‘On social media, where you can post your mental state freely, you get a lot of insight into what these people are going through, which might be rare in a clinical setting.

‘In brief 30- or 60-minute sessions with patients, clinicians might not get all manifestations of the condition, but on social media you have the full spectrum.’

Although the study did not link ADHD to online bullying, their findings suggest sufferers may be more likely to troll social media users.

ADHD sufferers are angry and stay up late, new research suggests (stock image)

How the study was carried out

The researchers analyzed approximately 1.3 million tweets posted by 1,399 Twitter users with self-reported ADHD diagnoses.

The study’s participants’ tweets were compared against people without the disorder.

ADHD patients swear more

Although the study did not specifically mention online bullying, results reveal ADHD sufferers post more swear words on Twitter than non-patients.

They also more frequently use words such as ‘hate’, ‘cry’, disappointed’ and ‘sad’.

ADHD patients also often post tweets between midnight and 6am.

The researchers speculate the quick responses generally delivered on Twitter from other users may ease ADHD patients’ negative moods.

Mr Guntuku said: ‘On social media, where you can post your mental state freely, you get a lot of insight into what these people are going through, which might be rare in a clinical setting.

‘In brief 30- or 60-minute sessions with patients, clinicians might not get all manifestations of the condition, but on social media you have the full spectrum.’

The researchers hope to develop condition-specific apps that offer insight into mental-health disorders such as ADHD, anxiety and depression to help patients identify their triggers.

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